Maurice McDonald

American restaurateur

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June 17, 2026

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Maurice McDonald, along with his brother Richard, were American restaurateurs who founded the first McDonald's drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. In 1948, they revolutionized their business by implementing the "Speedee Service System," which focused on producing large quantities of food at low prices with efficient, self-service operations.12

Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman, discovered the brothers' innovative concept in 1954 and recognized its potential for national expansion. He became a franchise agent, founded McDonald's Corporation in 1955, and eventually bought out the McDonald brothers in 1961. Kroc standardized operations and established Hamburger University to train franchisees, transforming McDonald's into a global fast-food empire. The company is known for its hamburgers, fries, and iconic brands like the Big Mac, and has also engaged in significant charitable work through Ronald McDonald House Charities.123

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Ray Kroc
…was owned by two brothers, Maurice and Richard McDonald, who used an assembly-line format to prepare and sell a large volume of hamburgers, french fries, and milk shakes. Impressed by what he saw, Kroc decided to set up a chain of drive-in restaurants based on the McDonald brothers’ format, and…
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…was owned by two brothers, Maurice and Richard McDonald, who used an assembly-line format to prepare and sell a large volume of hamburgers, french fries, and milk shakes. Impressed by what he saw, Kroc decided to set up a chain of drive-in restaurants based on the McDonald brothers’ format, and…
Read More